2010 Beneficiaries

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PHILADELPHIA(BGCP) – With 12 centers in Philadelphia, BGCP provides pre-school education, after school day care and core programs for: education and career development; character and leadership; health and life skills; sports; fitness and recreation; and the arts. 2010 Flower Market proceeds will be used to purchase computer skills and academic learning software (particularly for reading, math and critical thinking) for the 2,000 children participating in “Power Hour: Making Minutes Count”, a program of interactive tutoring and homework assistance, as well as to purchase dry erasers and flipcharts to facilitate small group sessions. http://bgcphila.org/

SMITH THE KIDS’ PLAY PLACE IN THE PARK: Opened in 1899, the Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse in East Fairmount Park consists of an impressive 24,000 square-foot structure on 6 ½ acres of land. Their “Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide” has been considered a “fantasyland” for children. Being fully accessible, the Playground now features a “Swing City” and a “Liberty Labyrinth.” The playground is open free to all children, regardless of economic capability. Funds from the 2010 Flower Market will be used to further Smith’s excellent programs of play, thereby fulfilling Philadelphia’s sincere need for safe, creative and accessible play areas. http://smithkidsplayplace.org/

TABOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES: Formerly an orphanage, Tabor has redirected its focus to now providing community-based services, including foster care, adoption, children’s home services, adolescent life-skills training, abuse prevention services, coordinating community living arrangements for young men with autism, and supporting programs to provide living arrangements for mothers with psychiatric diagnoses to live with their children. Tabor will use 2010 Flower Market funds for summer programs for approximately 45 youths to attend special summer camps, sponsor trips to museums, parks, events, and to college campuses; all of which are intended to provide summer activities for students to keep them safe and off the streets. http://www.tabor.org/

YOUTH SERVICE, INC. (YSI) – YSI, in fulfilling their mission to prevent the abuse and neglect of Philadelphia children and help at-risk children and families in Philadelphia, operates “Crisis Nurseries”, which provides 24-hour shelter for young children (birth to age 5). Also, their “Mother-Baby Home” provides shelter for young women and infants, and their “Youth Emergency Service (YES)” program provides food, clothing and shelter to approximately 420 youths aged 12 to 18 years. Funds from the 2010 Flower Market will be used for health screenings of, medication for and the medical care of 100 homeless or runaway youth at the YES shelter, Many of these Philadelphia children enter the shelter with a host of conditions, not limited to sexually transmitted diseases, mental disorders, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, for which they have received none or scant medical care for extended periods of time. http://www.ysiphila.org/